Your 2024 First 13 Team predictions

[Mustafur]

This is assuming we don't sign anyone else to cover players we have lost from what we know from the time I have posted this thread.

For me this is what I see our starting 13 as from what we know as of now:

1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Staggs
4. Cobbo
5. Arthars
6. Mam
7. Reynolds
8. Capewell
9. Walters
10. Haas
11. Piakura
12. Riki
13. Carrigan

The two obvious changes being Capewell and Cobbo, I'm the most unsure on Capewell, I think there is an obvious move for him being moved to middle because his big body and age slowly making him unsuitable for edge defence, he has a bit of ball play about him so you would figure 13 but we use our props for ball play as it is anyway and I can't see Carrigan being moved from lock as he keeps excelling in the role so I think Capewell will be adjusted as the Flegs replacement as starter, not sure on his minutes in that role but when he has moved there after Piakura takes his edge, he has shown more then you would think, his defensive issues seem more to do with the tackle difficulty on the edge then his longevity stint wise.

For Cobbo it might seem insane to move a rep level winger from his right wing but from a team perspective I think we gain more from him being on his preferred left side to allow Arthars to be on his favoured side on the right, this will Allow Cobbo to use his deadly right fend alot more, it's still to be seen if he has the positional awareness in centre to setup the outside man but I think taking away from the ball return catching job is a good idea as he doesn't look that comfortable in it, a Position Arthars is very safe at.

I think the rest is pretty obvious at this stage atleast.

 

[Painin the Haas]

I have been keen on Cobbo at centre form day 1. With his size he can be a monster in attack and defence (plus the bonus he isn’t as close to the sideline!). Defensive attitude is the only issue but that is an issue wherever cobbo plays. Either way I think Mariner should be next man up at either centre or wing to fill the vacancy. Love Arthurs but he’s a back up player I rather see what Mariner can do with more game time.

With Capewell I think what Kevie is doing with now is perfect, start him on an edge and when they game gets loose you move him to the middle to ball play. It also freshens up our edge defence without wasting an interchange

 

[Sproj]

So nice to have some consistency in the side now, most spots are picking themselves.

Next year, we'll be looking at:
1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Staggs
4. Cobbo
5. Mariner (Arthars)
6. Mam
7. Reynolds (c)
8. Haas
9. Walters
10. Jensen
11. Capewell
12. Riki
13. Carrigan

14. Mozer (Paix)
15. Hetherington
16. Willison (Baker/Taupau)
17. Piakura

I tell you what, there is definitely an argument to push Patty to prop and Hetherington to starting lock though.

 

[Culhwch]

I tell you what, there is definitely an argument to push Patty to prop and Hetherington to starting lock though.

I'd love to see Kobe get an extended run in the 13 to see what he can offer. I think Haas-Carrigan-Hetherington might be a better balanced starting middle than Flegler-Haas-Carrigan.

 

[Sproj]

I'd love to see Kobe get an extended run in the 13 to see what he can offer. I think Haas-Carrigan-Hetherington might be a better balanced starting middle than Flegler-Haas-Carrigan.

And if you give Willison an extended run, perhaps alternating with Taupau, you still get your impact prop on the bench and the long minute workhorse in Jensen. Of course the question is what to do with Baker but let's see how he goes in preseason. Basically your bench forwards are:

15. Jensen (locked)
16. Willison/Baker/Taupau/Bayliss
17. Piakura (locked)

So ultimately, your only spots that are unknown are:
4 / 5 (though obviously Cobbos is one of these), 10 / 13 (though one of these is obviously Patty) and 13 / 15 (though one of these is obviously Kobe) and 14

 

[mitch222]

Why would you push Carrigan out of his best position is beyond me. He is close to the best lock in the game currently.

 

[BroncsFan]

Why would you push Carrigan out of his best position is beyond me. He is close to the best lock in the game currently.

I've still got Yeo and Murray well ahead of him, but he's next best.

Yeo in the game last week when Cleary went off the field, basically turned into the halfback and was creating tries.

I'm loving Patty's interplay with the other middles and he's been close to putting both Haas and Flegler away inside the red zone,
but somehow they weren't able to capitalise on it due to last ditch tackles bringing them down.

 

[BroncosFever]

I think it's about getting the balance perfect between running and passing and that's what Yeo does so well. Yeo has been playing that role for years though.

 

[Fitzy]

I think it's about getting the balance perfect between running and passing and that's what Yeo does so well. Yeo has been playing that role for years though.

I think he is regressing a bit in balancing it perfectly. Carrigan and Murray have the better running games and Yeo the better ball playing but it’s getting to the stage where Yeo isn’t balancing as well as he once was so that gap is closing. I’d have them all pretty on par. Each of them just suit perfectly the role they need to play for their club and I think really which one is better will just flow with whoever is in the better form at the time. That can change week to week, year to year really.

 

[Johnny92]

I have been keen on Cobbo at centre form day 1. With his size he can be a monster in attack and defence (plus the bonus he isn’t as close to the sideline!). Defensive attitude is the only issue but that is an issue wherever cobbo plays. Either way I think Mariner should be next man up at either centre or wing to fill the vacancy. Love Arthurs but he’s a back up player I rather see what Mariner can do with more game time.

With Capewell I think what Kevie is doing with now is perfect, start him on an edge and when they game gets loose you move him to the middle to ball play. It also freshens up our edge defence without wasting an interchange

When Cobbo played centre at the back end of the 2021 season his defence is what stood out to me the most.

 

[theshed]

So nice to have some consistency in the side now, most spots are picking themselves.

Next year, we'll be looking at:
1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Staggs
4. Cobbo
5. Mariner (Arthars)
6. Mam
7. Reynolds (c)
8. Haas
9. Walters
10. Jensen
11. Capewell
12. Riki
13. Carrigan

14. Mozer (Paix)
15. Hetherington
16. Willison (Baker/Taupau)
17. Piakura

I tell you what, there is definitely an argument to push Patty to prop and Hetherington to starting lock though.

Yeah last season I was always on board have a lock rotation of Kobe and Capewell but the obstacle now is that despite seeing how good of a move it is to shift Capewell mid game, Patty has just become too good to shift

 

[ZTop]

Piakura seems to be getting rave reviews from everyone in the media over the last two games

 

[BooKhaki]

Is this what we want, or think we will see?

What I want is;

1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Staggs
4. Cobbo
5. Arthars/Mariner
6. Mam
7. Reynolds (c)
8. Haas
9. Smoothy/Walters
10. Carrigan
11. Piakura
12. Riki
13. Capewell

I want Piakura to kick on and be worth starting, as I think Carrigan at prop and Capewell to lock is what's best to open up our attack even more, and take away Capewell's defensive lapses out wide. Ideally I'd like to sign a Su'a/Frizell/Fitzgibbon to start on that left edge.

 

[Mr Fourex]

I tell you what, there is definitely an argument to push Patty to prop and Hetherington to starting lock though.

....and a further argument to leave Capwell out of the side altogether.

 

[simplythebest]

1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Staggs
4. Cobbo
5. Arthurs
6. Mam
7. Reynolds
8. Carrigan
9. Walters
10. Haas
11. Capewell
12. Riki
13. Hetherington

14. Smoothy/ Mozer
15. Piakura
16. Jensen
17. Some other big bopper

Arthurs just can't not be in the side IMO - Mariner to come into the back 5 at first drop.

Depending how Piakura goes at the end of the year he could start on the left edge with Capewell at 13, but I'm liking the change they're making at the moment with Capewell going into the middle when Piakura comes on. Not sold on Paix and if Mozer gets his chance later this year in a couple of matches he might find his way onto the bench next year.

 

[Mustafur]

Is this what we want, or think we will see?

What I want is;

1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Staggs
4. Cobbo
5. Arthars/Mariner
6. Mam
7. Reynolds (c)
8. Haas
9. Smoothy/Walters
10. Carrigan
11. Piakura
12. Riki
13. Capewell

I want Piakura to kick on and be worth starting, as I think Carrigan at prop and Capewell to lock is what's best to open up our attack even more, and take away Capewell's defensive lapses out wide. Ideally I'd like to sign a Su'a/Frizell/Fitzgibbon to start on that left edge.

More of what you will think will happen, I agree Capewell is a 13 but I don't see Carrigan being moved from that which isn't such a big deal as we have used props for ball playing anyway like Haas he has been used in first receiver almost as much as patty at this point.

 

[Footy Fanatic]

Is this what we want, or think we will see?

What I want is;

1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Staggs
4. Cobbo
5. Arthars/Mariner
6. Mam
7. Reynolds (c)
8. Haas
9. Smoothy/Walters
10. Carrigan
11. Piakura
12. Riki
13. Capewell

I want Piakura to kick on and be worth starting, as I think Carrigan at prop and Capewell to lock is what's best to open up our attack even more, and take away Capewell's defensive lapses out wide. Ideally I'd like to sign a Su'a/Frizell/Fitzgibbon to start on that left edge.

Why would we spend money on someone else when we already have Piakura developing nicely?

 

[Johnny92]

1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Staggs
4. Cobbo
5. Arthurs
6. Mam
7. Reynolds
8. Carrigan
9. Walters
10. Haas
11. Capewell
12. Riki
13. Hetherington

14. Smoothy/ Mozer
15. Piakura
16. Jensen
17. Some other big bopper

Arthurs just can't not be in the side IMO - Mariner to come into the back 5 at first drop.

Depending how Piakura goes at the end of the year he could start on the left edge with Capewell at 13, but I'm liking the change they're making at the moment with Capewell going into the middle when Piakura comes on. Not sold on Paix and if Mozer gets his chance later this year in a couple of matches he might find his way onto the bench next year.

This is the 1-7 I'd go for and the 11, 8/13, and bench spot could go anyway really and all be just as good, the players are there just who fits in where and getting the balance right is the issue now.
The Piakura-Capewell move is working well ATM, whether Patty wears 8 or 13 he does the same job maybe he likes the number 13 better.. I think Jensen is more of a grind out starter and Kobe can provide impact off the bench as we've seen against the knights but he could also do that starting.
That 14 jersey is Mozers eventually but I can see Smoothy jumping Infront of Paix now he's been given his chance.